A Curious Observer In The Studio
Hannah Lu Anderson, a talented digital artist, spends countless hours sketching, designing, and creating on her iPad. For her, the tablet is a daily tool — but for Artemis, her sharp-eyed cat, it was an object of endless fascination. Like many cats, Artemis often perched nearby, watching her human’s hands glide effortlessly across the glowing screen.
Over time, Artemis wasn’t just lounging for company. She was quietly studying, paying close attention to the swipes, taps, and gestures. Cats are exceptional observers, and Artemis’s curiosity soon transformed into something unexpected: she wanted to try it herself.
From Bird Videos To Independence
When Anderson wasn’t working, she often used her iPad for Artemis’s entertainment. Many pet owners know the joy of showing their cats bird or squirrel videos, and Artemis was no different — her pupils dilated with excitement at the flutter of wings or the ripple of water.
At first, Anderson was the one in control, carefully queuing up videos and pressing play. But Artemis, ever the independent feline, decided she could take charge of her own entertainment. Watching was no longer enough — she wanted the power to choose.
A Surprising Display Of Tech Skills
One ordinary afternoon, Anderson set up the iPad for Artemis, expecting her to simply sit and stare. Instead, Artemis shocked her with a surprising new skill. With confident little swipes of her paw, Artemis began scrolling through the tablet herself. She tapped at the icons, batted at the screen, and even experimented with her tongue to navigate.
In a moment captured on video, Anderson could be heard laughing in disbelief: “How do you know how to do this?”
The most astonishing part? Artemis actually managed to land on her own video of choice — ducks quacking happily in a creek. Whether through luck or intention, Artemis had figured out how to pick her own show. “That was the first time I’d ever seen her do the scroll thing,” Anderson said. “I thought it was really silly.”
Silly, perhaps, but also a clear example of feline intelligence at work. Artemis had been observing long enough to mimic human behavior and achieve the outcome she wanted.
Why Cats Love Screens (And What Makes Artemis Unique)
Artemis isn’t the first cat to be fascinated by glowing rectangles. Cats are naturally drawn to movement, light, and sound — all of which screens provide in abundance. Videos of birds, fish, and small animals mimic the prey they would chase in nature, activating their hunting instincts in a safe, indoor way.
But Artemis stands out because she didn’t just watch passively. She took the extra step of experimenting with the touchscreen — something few cats attempt. Her behavior shows the combination of curiosity, intelligence, and problem-solving that makes felines such captivating companions.
Technology may not have been designed for paws or whiskers, but Artemis proved that with enough observation, even a house cat can bridge the gap between instinct and innovation.
